Power execs: We’ve got enough juice

CHICAGO — Electricity may cost more these days, but at least it will be in adequate supply this summer if consumers crank up their air conditioners.

Mike Ramsey

Power execs: We’ve got enough juice

ICC holds meeting on summer electricity supply

By MIKE RAMSEY

GATEHOUSE NEWS SERVICE

CHICAGO — Electricity may cost more these days, but at least it will be in adequate supply this summer if consumers crank up their air conditioners.

Representatives from the Ameren Illinois utilities and ComEd assured the Illinois Commerce Commission Tuesday that the companies have lined up enough power, plus reserves, to meet the expected seasonal demand.

The forecasted peak load for the Ameren utilities — AmerenCILCO, AmerenCIPS and AmerenIP — is a combined 7,490 megawatts, according to information an executive provided to the ICC. ComEd, which serves the populous Chicago region, forecast its peak at 23,525 megawatts this summer.

On the delivery side, officials for the utilities outlined maintenance work and projects they said would make their systems more reliable. But in his report to commissioners, Ameren vice president of regional operations William Prebil said some pieces of equipment in his networks, including transformers, would exceed their ratings during summer demand or in “worst-case” scenarios. He said operators would reduce the load in some areas and “closely” monitor the others.

ICC Chairman Charles Box said he is comfortable that Ameren can temporarily shift the burden to alternative equipment, if necessary.

He said the Ameren utilities and ComEd appear ready for summer but added they cannot anticipate all potential problems, such as violent storms, that may occur.

“Some things are totally unforeseen,” Box said. “We can’t control Mother Nature ... and if you have two or three or four 90- or 100-degree days back to back, it puts a stress on any system.”

ICC members meet with utility companies each year to discuss the reliability of summer electricity service. No mention was made during Tuesday’s meeting about the controversy over higher electric rates that took effect this year as part of utility deregulation in Illinois.

State lawmakers have considered proposals to roll back electric rates to previous levels, over the objections of utility companies.

“What will happen in Springfield will happen,” Box said. “We’re more concerned about what’s going happen between now and, say, September. Are (utilities) prepared and have they been working on the systems?”

Mike Ramsey can be reached at (312) 857-2323 or gnsramsey@sbcglobal.net.